WHERE’S THE WOOGIE?

From June Boon, Wally and Joni Van Sickle.

ACTIVITY	AFFIRMATIONS	TWEAKS
Circle of Support	Like keeping the teams together
Brainwise	The best ever!	The elevator mixes me up for the reasons that June lists below, and because it is opposite of many teachings. I wish we could go outside the book, so to speak on this one point of brain wise, and change it to reaching for the next highest vibration. I totally recognize this is probably not possible, but just stating- take it or leave it! I need to go back and look at the book, but it seems confusing to have both positive and negative emotions escalate up the ladder. It makes it sound like you should always be low key.
True Colors		Don’t allude to any color characteristics before taking the test. The egg skit made green seem rather mean and kids may not want to be known as green after that.Can we do the skit AFTER taking the test?
Swept away	I love this activity!	I think it felt a little rushed, and since I hadn’t seen the training, I was a little lost on where it was coming from. I KNOW this activity, but something seemed different this year. This activity seemed like some groups had it go very well, other not so much. We did not hang the chart up on the wall (no tape?) and it was too crowded and not that inclusive with only one sheet on the floor. Hanging up two sheets on the wall and making it a bit more active for participation would be more effective. The idea behind it is good and kids seemed to get the idea.
Life List	Great job by Dave Boon, as always, and I caught my kids talking about him favorably when I walked into the room.	However, I related to the people examples: The point can be made, and with more impact, with fewer examples, and this would give time for what I will discuss below. Examples are heavily athletic, non-athletic accomplishments are noteworthy too. By cutting out so many examples, more time can be spent on the life list by giving the kids some ideas on HOW to do some of these things. I agree here. Getting them started to developing a plan would be ideal. Dave Boon is an Idea Factory, and it would be great to share some life list items with the kids and have him give some ways that they can accomplish or get started on the goals. Alternatively, or in addition, he could focus in on a few common steps that they can take towards goal accomplishments. Like Wally’s three “tools” of mentorship, wandering, visualizing. A really cool debrief of this, as done by June’s group, or to be done with Dave, would be to make goals for this week, the next year, 3 years, life, etc. This approach would maybe seem less daunting to the kids, and they could actually become motivated by accomplishing the shorter term goals. Maybe creating a plan is complete other session
Corey Ciocchetti	OMG- this is a great presentation, and the kids love him. Totally agree here – loved listening to him.	I felt that during debrief the kids did not retain many of the points Corey made, but they remembered the humor. There was too much hidden in the humor. Perhaps he can summarize his ideas before ending.
CC	There is one guy that has been there the last few years, forgot the name but could point out in a picture, that is really good. He has good debrief skills, AND he lets the JCs call shots. He was with us for the low ropes part only.	I was surprised that they went right into the trust fall without doing wind in willows. I think this “warm up” activity is important, as I have not had such reluctance for trust fall before. Of course, it was fabulous to see my team rally to challenge and support each other to succeed in this. This is always a great activity.
CH	I cannot assess this, as I missed most of it. I am curious to hear how others feel, as the boat thing was interesting.	I thought this was done well and is a great activity. Perhaps the video clips could be debriefed a bit more than they were and use them to develop their own core values
CV		I am not sure if this was supposed to only focus on Core Values of the team or not, but I really feel it is more important to focus on the core values of the individual. Like do a quick shout out list of all sorts of core values to give the kids vocabulary, then do the individual values, then values of the team. While I like hanging the team core values up on the wall, I think it would have more “take home impact” for them to have a pretty compass drawing of their OWN core values to take home and post somewhere (ours from last year are on our fridge). I also believe we should focus on how they apply those core values to their individual lives – not just arbitrarily list values they like which is what I felt our group did. Perhaps this can be done instead of or as an extension of the 4 Way Test.
RB	I love the big ball and funny rules	They had a lot of fun with this and since the day is so busy and we did not debrief this in the evening a short debrief before moving on to the next matrix item (under the pavilion in the shade of course) would be useful. I agree- Cuad and Toria did a BRILLIANT debrief here during the last 15 minutes of the activity, likening the whole experience to changes and unfair rules in life.
TW	I really missed Jim doing this, as the safety aspect was NOT emphasized firmly enough. However, I think this is a great way to assess the potential of the staff as future JCs.	Safety aspect needs to be emphasized WAY more, in stern Jim fashion J. I agree, the course was rather scary at times. I do think Alex started a good debrief ( we continued it at twilight time).
4WT	I have never appreciated this activity in the past, HOWEVER, this is the best it has ever been. Unfortunately, that is dependant on the Rotarian running it. Mine was great (Dan Seldon?), and the kids participated actively.	It seems like real world situations applicable to their age group would actually benefit them and give them ideas for similar situations in their own lives. I agree – things like cheating, etc. Although our Rotarian did explain the 4WT it was never applied to the scenarios after that. Okay, I say it every year, I wish they could hear about the Rotary 4 way test, and then make their own. How about combining with core values? I agree with this as well. It could define how they apply their core values to their own lives.
Find my voice	AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! Peter does a fantastic job at this. I agree	This is an exceptional way to allow the kids to write about their feelings. They gained respect for each other as the poems were read. Peter did a nice job of connecting it to life goals.
Walk of Possibilities		Okay, I know Wally and I could have done a better job and been more cohesive, but I think we could finesse this and improve upon it, should we be asked to do it again. I did not see this activity.
Global stations	What a diamond in the rough! PLEASE work on this and try again	Number one- Separate this so that we can hear what is going on. When it is nice weather – spread it out into the forest. The fact or fiction game was very popular with the kids. I heard kids wanted more time. When does THIS happen? Maybe 10 minutes with the JCs then 5 minutes playing the games? Since Wally talks about wandering to find your path and passion in life – perhaps connecting it with goals, tolerance, acceptance, call to action would make this seem more applicable.
Hikes		Maybe do a 9-11 hike for the main hike – to be less dependant on weather, and to do it before it gets too hot. I believe the JCs and SCs were so involved in socializing that several kids wandered to areas that may have gotten them hurt.
Call to action	This could be powerful if they actually come up with concrete plans and have motivation to actually take steps forward	I wish we could let them pick their own subject, based on THEIR passions. Ours was only very loosely based on our topic, but it was an expressed interest of the kids, and they actually made a doable plan. Maybe we could have topic/background info if they didn’t come up with something themselves? I think call to action is a great idea but it is difficult for them to get passionate about an idea that is not theirs. Ours worked out OK (gender issues) but it was a big challenge. Perhaps the steps to planning and even an example of how the JC implemented a project can be discussed– the 10 steps that are listed in the notebookare excellent, and then each kid or even several kids with similar interests can create a plan that they will more likely follow through on.
Skits		The skits seemed unimaginative this year, maybe because topics were limited to brainwise or colors? Would a broader assigned topic related to leadership prevent boxing them in, so to speak? If we do this then skit prep would have to be later in the week, but I think some leeway on the topic is a good idea.
Wally’s talk (Did it ever get named?)	I think it was the best it ever was. I REALLY liked it	I am not sure how many examples of biologists were used at the end, but seemed like too many. Maybe just have three hard hitting ones (puppets and baby animals for sure).
Closing Ceremony	I liked having us all just say our thing with our team (no separate speeches by each counselor at the end). Shortens it up, and we get to be with our team when we say it. I would really want to know next year how it will be.	I like the way it was done this year as well – with the team.
Zip Line	Excellent – this is so empowering for everyone.
Service Project		This activity excludes kid as well. There is not enough room and tools (scissors etc) for everone to get involved. Perhaps 2 blankets or a project that each kid or pair of kids can complete – sock puppets for sick kids – ( know – weird but you get the idea).
All Aboard		This was so much fun for the kids and they learned a lot. The facilitators were good but a bit too lenient – it was obvious they did not want the kids to fail. Their debrief was good. This was a fun activity for my group as well. We didn’t really debrief this. I’m sorry, but I have to say this: one of the facilitators was totally buzzing on some kind of energy drink to the point that she was hopping from foot to foot and shaking. One of my kids wished her good luck when she “crashed off her buzz.”
Star Prep		This activity leaves people out after the design is decide dupon. The star is too small for 10 kids to gather around and work on. Not sure after they have a design plan that this is a worthwhile activity.
Circle of Friends	Excellent!	Staggering the teams with overlap of 5 people would allow us to be face to face with more of our own team members and make it more powerful. Sorry I don’t understand this comment. I LOVED having the teams stay together.
Towers	Excellent!!
Dance		While the music was good, it would be great to have more well-known songs included – specifically, can we have some old standbys that everyone knows and wants to dance crazy at? Seems like the previous two years had a lot of those, but of course, I can’t think of any. YMCA, Dance Like an Egyptian etc.
General	Great week, I was so impressed by how well it went. It was an excellent week. Thank you for having all indoor twilight time locations available for us. Bring back Summer, She is awesome! I would like to try to focus less on the “don’ts” and focus more on the HOW NOT TO’s. They all know the drugs and alcohol and thievery, etc. no no’s. How about working on a set of 3 or 4 tools on how to avoid doing these things (mentors, peers, community activities, websites, etc.) I don’t have all the answers (maybe the kids could come up with some themselves), but it seems like they get pounded with the no’s and it would be great to give them ideas for tools. I think Thursday is so slow compared to the other days. Perhaps an interactive activity in the AM could be added. I totally agree with this – almost like the day after Christmas.
Debriefs	I am always trying to figure out ways to facilitate the debriefing and to strengthen the teamwork between JC and SCs. I have always been totally blessed to have very cohesive relationships wth my JCs, and want to share some ideas that I think help: The Mono ball is a really really good tool. Worked wonders with some teams. Keep the open communication with your JC or SC. Check in frequently! Have a signal that the JC can give the SC if the JC feels that the SC is taking over too much. If this signal is used it is imperative that the JC & SC discuss what happened to make sure that both parties understand what the other was thinking/feeling, and to come to an understanding about that situation. To discuss between JC and SC: how can the SC interject when they feel that the topic/discussion needs to go a little deeper? Sometimes the SC can see points that maybe need to be discussed/explored/ emphasized, that the JC might miss (for a number of very valid reasons).